In our silly lil game, we sometimes see things pop in that we have no clue as to their Origin. They seem familiar, but we just can’t pinpoint from where. So that is why we decided to make a fun lil reminder out of it. To let you know just Where Did THAT Come From?

Wowza… the 2017 Secret Agent Simpsons Event is in full effect and we’re all busy collecting intel, crafting subversive surveillance items, and tapa-tapa-tapping secret agents and spies in a covert palooza all about Globex, the EPA, GHOST, and the CIA. It’s enough to make me want to watch Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Don Adams, and Rowan Atkinson on repeat. Hooray for new ideas in TSTO. Just like the xxth Bond movie, life lessons as an adult, or an intelligence collection mission, I’m sure a lot of us never saw this coming. Of course, with any new event, there’s always an inevitable tapping on my attic floor from Alissa to get started on writing about the origins for it all. It’s always a pleasure to re-watch episodes of the Best. Show. Ever. to do just that. For this round of origins, we’ll be taking a look at three premium buildings that all became available during Act Two of the 2017 Secret Agent Simpsons event.

For the first building all about “blatant false advertising”, we head to “A Milhouse Divided” (S8:E6). It’s an episode all about dignity, borrowing a feeling, and Milhouse’s parents breaking up. You’d think there wouldn’t be a building like this in such a devastating episode for Milhouse but you’d be wrong. Before the game of Pictionary gone wrong, before Kirk’s race car bed, and before LuAnn was set ablaze by Pyro, Marge decided she was tired of boring dinners with her family and that she wanted to have a fancy dinner party. It’s this shindig which led to said marital discord. And where would one go in Springfield to get supplies for a soirée? Stoner’s Pot Palace of course. You can’t blame Otto for being confused by the name. They do have cool stuff like lemon ballers, citrus zesters, ravioli crimpers, oyster mallets, and punch bowls though. Hey Otto… all these could be used for fancy munchies… just up your recreational status and don’t forget to check the back alley of the store.

Our next building that makes me think of amazing songs from bands like The Crew Cuts, Overtones, and more comes from “Homer’s Phobia” (S8:E15). Once upon a time, Homer had a silly issue with a man-loving man named John who owned a kitsch store in the Springfield Mall. I know some folks have issues with the real life person who voiced this character but Homer’s is less tabloidy. His fear of festive alternative lifestyles goes so far as to have him trying to ensure his son stays on the straight and narrow so to speak. It’s all funny and brought gems like the Ajax Steel Mill and angry Santa’s Village reindeer to the show but there’s one little item from the episode I always thought was a cool building. When Marge, Lisa, and Bart hang out with John for a sordid celebrity tour of Springfield (it has all sorts of stories that make John “sick in a wonderful, wonderful way.”), he takes them to none other than the Sha-Boom Ka-Boom Café. I just love the interior of the café and also that Smithers is friends with John.

For the last building that parodies a great Chinese martial arts film by Ang Lee can be found in “Adventures in Baby-Getting” (S24:E3). This episode revolves around Marge getting a new car which prompts her to want to have another kiddo and then hilarity that ensues. It’s all really funny and the ending always makes me laugh but it’s not the A plot which brings us the new building. In the B plot, Lisa is mysteriously sneaking somewhere after school and Bart is determined to find out where and for what. While following her, Crouching Panda Hidden Egg Roll is seen. Gotta love Milly in the store window.

So there you go friends. The origins for three different buildings. Did you remember all of them from the show? Did you purchase any? Are you more of a Fat Man or Little Boy kinda person? I’m neither but that’s because I know my history. Sound off in the comments. I hope your spying is going well as you tapa-tapa-tapa covertly in your towns.

Like the Sha-Boom Ka-Boom cafe but wish it had released at another time with John as a playable character. Maybe he will appear in some future event. (since his store was in the mall probably won’t get it as a stand alone store)

Fat Man and Little Boy saved the lives of hundreds of thousands (if not a million) American soldiers, who otherwise would have had to invade Japan on foot. They could be the reason I got to meet and spend years with my grandfather…